ACCI, Japan to develop incubation centre for SMEs

The Japanese embassy in Nigeria, in partnership with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (ACCI), is facilitating the setting up of a Small and Medium Enterprises, (SMEs), incubation and training centre for Women Arise Development and Humanitarian Initiative, (WADHI), to help in building the capacity of women in business.

The Director-General of ACCI, Victoria Akai, said the Chamber’s partnership with WADHI is to establish a digital incubation centre to support the capacity development of women and also to promote financial literacy.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the centre in Abuja, Akai said: “The partnership looks at how to link women to international market, especially in the context of Africa Continental Free Trade Area, (AfCFTA), because before we can talk of diversifying, we have to look beyond our borders.”

Managing Director, (MD), of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, (NEPZA), and second vice president of ACCI, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said the Chamber is paying serious attention to gender issues, especially the development of women in business.

While congratulating the management of WADHI for their initiatives at supporting women and for raising the incubation centre, Adesugba said, “developing the capacity of women is key to national development.”

The Director of WADHI, Mrs. Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia, said “the incubation centre is the womb that will birth great things for the benefit of women in business.

“There will be digital training and financial management services for women and also a trading platform because the best way to expand trade is to build the capacity of women to understand the etiquettes of business better which makes them the bedrock of the economy.

“The importance of women going into business is not only for economic gain but to also inculcate entrepreneurial skill into their children.”